Case 3:16-cv-00007

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Per A. Ramfjord, OSB No. 934024

per.ramfjord@stoel.com
STOEL RIVES LLP
900 SW Fifth Avenue, Suite 2600
Portland, OR 97204
Telephone: (503) 224-3380
Facsimile: (503) 220-2480
Christopher J. Renk, ILSB No. 6199012
crenk@bannerwitcoff.com
Erik S. Maurer, ILSB No. 6275467
emaurer@bannerwitcoff.com
Michael J. Harris, ILSB No. 6280168
mharris@bannerwitcoff.com
Audra C. Eidem Heinze, ILSB No. 6299717
aheinze@bannerwitcoff.com
Aaron Bowling, ILSB No. 6312394
abowling@bannerwitcoff.com
BANNER & WITCOFF, LTD.
Ten South Wacker Drive
Suite 3000
Chicago, IL 60606-7407
Telephone: (312) 463-5000
Facsimile: (312) 463-5001
Pro Hac Vice Pending
Attorneys for Plaintiff Nike, Inc.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

DISTRICT OF OREGON
PORTLAND DIVISION
NIKE, INC., an Oregon corporation,

Case No.: __________________

Plaintiff,
v.
SKECHERS U.S.A., INC., a Delaware
corporation,
Defendant.
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COMPLAINT FOR PATENT

INFRINGEMENT
(35 U.S.C. 101)
JURY TRIAL REQUESTED

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Plaintiff Nike, Inc. (NIKE), for its Complaint against Defendant Skechers U.S.A., Inc.
(Skechers), alleges as follows:
INTRODUCTION
1.

This is an action for patent infringement arising under the Patent Laws of the

United States, 35 U.S.C. 101 et seq. NIKE owns exclusive rights in the ornamental designs
claimed in United States Design Patent Nos. D696,853; D700,423; and D707,032, each titled
Shoe Upper, and D723,772; D723,781; D723,783; D725,356; and D725,359, each titled Shoe
Sole (collectively, the NIKE Patents).
2.

Skechers has used and continues to use the claimed designs of the NIKE Patents,

without NIKEs permission, on shoes that Skechers makes, uses, offers for sale, sells, and/or
imports into the United States.
3.

NIKE seeks, among other relief, an injunction preventing Skechers from further

infringing the NIKE Patents, and damages and/or a disgorgement of Skechers profits from its
patent infringements.
THE PARTIES
4.

NIKE is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of

Oregon with a principal place of business at One Bowerman Drive, Beaverton, Oregon 97005.
5.

On information and belief, Skechers is a corporation organized and existing under

the laws of the State of Delaware with a principal place of business at 228 Manhattan Beach
Boulevard, Manhattan Beach, California 90266.

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JURISDICTION AND VENUE

6.

This action arises under the patent laws of the United States, Title 35, United

States Code. This Court has subject matter jurisdiction over this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
1331 and 1338.
7.

This Court has personal jurisdiction over Skechers at least because Skechers

transacts and solicits business in the State of Oregon, including with respect to shoes that
infringe the NIKE Patents, and because Skechers is committing and has committed acts of patent
infringement in the State of Oregon, at least by selling and offering to sell shoes that infringe the
NIKE Patents in Oregon.
8.

Venue is proper in this judicial district under 28 U.S.C. 1391 and 1400 at least

because Skechers resides in this district by transacting and soliciting business in this district,
including with respect to shoes that infringe the NIKE Patents, and committing acts of patent
infringement in this district by selling and offering to sell shoes that infringe the NIKE Patents.
FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS
A.

The NIKE Patents

9.

For many years, NIKE has designed, developed, made, and sold a wide array of

athletic and fashion footwear, apparel, and sports equipment.

10.

NIKE has taken steps to protect its innovative designs, including its footwear-

related designs. In particular, NIKE owns various United States design patents relating to its
footwear designs. Relevant to this dispute, NIKE owns all right, title, and interest in, and has the
right to sue and recover for past, present, and future infringement of, each of the NIKE Patents
identified in Table 1 from the date each patent duly and legally issued to NIKE. A copy of each
NIKE Patent is attached to this Complaint as indicated in Table 1.
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Table 1: The NIKE Patents

U.S. Patent Number

Title

D696,853 (the 853 Patent)

D700,423 (the 423 Patent)
D707,032 (the 032 Patent)
D723,772 (the 772 Patent)
D723,781 (the 781 Patent)
D723,783 (the 783 Patent)
D725,356 (the 356 Patent)
D725,359 (the 359 Patent)

Shoe Upper
Shoe Upper
Shoe Upper
Shoe Sole
Shoe Sole
Shoe Sole
Shoe Sole
Shoe Sole

11.
B.

Issue Date of
Patent
January 7, 2014
March 4, 2014
June 17, 2014
March 10, 2015
March 10, 2015
March 10, 2015
March 31, 2015
March 31, 2015

Complaint
Exhibit
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H

The NIKE Patents are presumed to be valid.

Skechers Infringing Activities

12.

On information and belief, without NIKEs authorization, Skechers made, used,

offered for sale, sold, and/or imported into the United States shoes having designs that violate the
NIKE Patents (hereafter, the Infringing Shoes). The Infringing Shoes include at least products
identified by the model names: Skechers Burst, Womens Flex Appeal, Mens Flex Advantage,
Girls Skech Appeal, and Boys Flex Advantage shoes, as well as Skechers shoes bearing the
same or substantially similar infringing designs, regardless of model name.
13.

On information and belief, the overall appearance of the designs of the NIKE

Patents and the corresponding designs of Skechers Infringing Shoes are substantially the same.
14.

On information and belief, an ordinary observer will perceive the overall

appearance of the designs of the NIKE Patents and the corresponding designs of Skechers
Infringing Shoes to be substantially the same. For example, a recent article describes the
Skechers Burst Infringing Shoe as having ripped off NIKEs Flyknit design that is covered
by the 853, 423, and 032 Patents, as shown in Illustration 1 below. The complete article is
attached to the Complaint as Exhibit I.

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Illustration 1: Complex.com Article About Skechers Burst Infringing Shoe

15.

Tables 2 through 8 below illustrate Skechers infringement by comparing figures

from the NIKE Patents with exemplary images of Infringing Shoes.

Table 2: Comparison of 853 Patent with Exemplary Infringing Shoes
853 Patent Figures

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Exemplary Infringing Shoes

Womens Burst

Mens Burst

Womens Burst

Mens Burst

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Table 3: Comparison of 423 Patent with Exemplary Infringing Shoes

423 Patent Figures

Exemplary Infringing Shoes

Womens Burst

Mens Burst

Womens Burst

Mens Burst

Table 4: Comparison of 032 Patent with Exemplary Infringing Shoes

032 Patent Figures

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Exemplary Infringing Shoes

Womens Burst

Mens Burst

Womens Burst

Mens Burst

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Table 5: Comparison of 772 Patent with Exemplary Infringing Shoes

772 Patent Figures

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Exemplary Infringing Shoes

Womens Flex Appeal

Mens Flex Advantage

Girls Skech Appeal

Boys Flex Advantage

Womens Flex Appeal

Mens Flex Advantage

Girls Skech Appeal

Boys Flex Advantage

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Table 6: Comparison of 781 Patent with Exemplary Infringing Shoes

781 Patent Figures

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Exemplary Infringing Shoes

Womens Flex Appeal

Mens Flex Advantage

Girls Skech Appeal

Boys Flex Advantage

Womens Flex Appeal

Mens Flex Advantage

Girls Skech Appeal

Boys Flex Advantage

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Table 7: Comparison of 783 Patent with Exemplary Infringing Shoes

783 Patent Figures

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Exemplary Infringing Shoes

Womens Flex Appeal

Mens Flex Advantage

Girls Skech Appeal

Boys Flex Advantage

Womens Flex Appeal

Mens Flex Advantage

Girls Skech Appeal

Boys Flex Advantage

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Table 8: Comparison of 356 Patent with Exemplary Infringing Shoes

356 Patent Figures

Exemplary Infringing Shoes

Womens Flex Appeal

Mens Flex Advantage

Girls Skech Appeal

Boys Flex Advantage

Womens Flex Appeal

Mens Flex Advantage

Girls Skech Appeal

Boys Flex Advantage

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Table 9: Comparison of 359 Patent with Exemplary Infringing Shoes

359 Patent Figures

16.

Exemplary Infringing Shoes

Womens Flex Appeal

Mens Flex Advantage

Girls Skech Appeal

Boys Flex Advantage

Womens Flex Appeal

Mens Flex Advantage

Girls Skech Appeal

Boys Flex Advantage

On information and belief, Skechers intended to copy the designs covered by the

NIKE Patents.
17.

On information and belief, Skechers sells and offers to sell its shoes, including the

Infringing Shoes, directly to end-user customers through its e-commerce websites and its own
retail stores, as well as to third-party resellers, such as department and specialty stores, through
its wholesale distribution channel. (See, e.g., Exhibit J, Skechers Form 10-K at 2, 910.)
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Skechers sells and offers to sell Infringing Shoes directly to end-user customers in

the United States, including in Oregon. Third-party resellers also sell and offer to sell the
Infringing Shoes in the United States, including in Oregon. For example, Exhibit K attached
shows Infringing Shoes for sale on www.kohls.com, which, on information and belief, were
distributed through Skechers wholesale distribution channel, as well as a map showing Kohls
locations in the Portland, Oregon area.
19.

On information and belief, Skechers has infringed and continues to infringe the

NIKE Patents within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. 271 at least by making, using, selling, offering
to sell, and/or importing the Infringing Shoes into the United States without NIKEs
authorization.
FIRST CLAIM FOR RELIEF
(Infringement Under 35 U.S.C. 271 of the NIKE Patents)
20.

NIKE re-alleges and incorporates by reference the allegations set forth in

paragraphs 120 of this Complaint.

21.

Skechers, without authorization from NIKE, has made, used, offered for sale,

sold, and/or imported in or into the United States, and continues to make, use, offer for sale, sell,
and/or import in or into the United States, shoes having designs that infringe the NIKE Patents.
22.

NIKE has been and will continue to be irreparably harmed by Skechers

infringements of the NIKE Patents

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WHEREFORE, NIKE respectfully requests that the Court grant the following relief:
1.

A judgment that Skechers infringed each of the NIKE Patents;

2.

A permanent injunction enjoining Skechers, and all persons acting in concert with

Skechers, from infringing each of the NIKE Patents;

3.

A judgment and order requiring Skechers to pay NIKE all damages caused by

Skechers infringement of each of the NIKE Patents (but in no event less than a reasonable
royalty) pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 284, or the total profit made by Skechers from its infringement
of each of the NIKE Patents pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 289;
4.

A judgment and order requiring Skechers to pay NIKE supplemental damages or

profits for any continuing post-verdict infringement up until entry of the final judgment, with an
accounting, as needed;
5.

A judgment and order requiring Skechers to pay NIKE increased damages up to

three times the amount found or assessed pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 284;

6.

A judgment and order requiring Skechers to pay NIKE pre-judgment and post-

judgment interest on any damages or profits awarded;

7.

A determination that this action is an exceptional case pursuant to 35 U.S.C.

8.

An award of NIKEs attorneys fees for bringing and prosecuting this action;

9.

An award of NIKEs costs and expenses incurred in bringing and prosecuting this

285;

action; and

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Such further and additional relief as this Court deems just and proper.
DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL
NIKE hereby demands a jury for all issues so triable.

DATED: January 4, 2016.

STOEL RIVES LLP

/s/ Per A. Ramfjord

PER A. RAMFJORD, OSB No. 934024
per.ramfjord@stoel.com
BANNER & WITCOFF, LTD.
Christopher J. Renk, ILSB No. 6199012
crenk@bannerwitcoff.com
Erik S. Maurer, ILSB No. 6275467
emaurer@bannerwitcoff.com
Michael J. Harris, ILSB No. 6280168
mharris@bannerwitcoff.com
Audra C. Eidem Heinze, ILSB No. 6299717
aheinze@bannerwitcoff.com
Aaron P. Bowling, ILSB No. 6312394
abowling@bannerwitcoff.com
Pro Hac Vice Pending
Attorneys for Plaintiff Nike, Inc.

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